• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.4 s.84
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• pp.462-469
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• 2007

In this study, we isolated, characterized, and compared the vasa homologous genes of diploid and triploid Paragonimus westermani and localized VASA homologous proteins in both lung fluke types. Open reading frames of Pw-vasa-2n and Pw-vasa-3n were of 1812 bp, and encoded deduced proteins of 622 amino acids with calculated molecular weights of 69.0 kDa and 68.9 kDa and pI's of 9.11 and 9.03, respectively. A comparison of these two VASA deduced protein sequences showed that only 6 of the 622 amino acids differed. The deduced sequences of Pw-VASA-2n and Pw-VASA-3n contained eight consensus sequences characteristic of the DEAD-box protein family and their N-terminal regions contained four arginine-glycine-glycine (RGG) motifs. These two lung fluke VASA-like proteins were more similar to those of other VASA proteins than to those of other DEAD-family proteins isolated from several organisms (planarian, zebra fish, mouse, and human). vasa homologous gene transcription and VASA protein expressions in triploid type lung flukes was slightly stronger than in the diploid type. Immunostaining showed that testes and a portion of the ovaries of both diploid and triploid lung flukes reacted strongly to anti-Pw-VASA antibody.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.11-16
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• 2004

Classification of esophageal motility disorders not yet finalized and is still ongoing as the new disorders are reported, and the existing classification is changed or removed. In terms of radiology, the primary peristalsis does not exist, and the lower end of the esophagus show the smooth, tapered, beak-like appearance. The esophageal motility disorder, which mostly occurs in the smooth muscle area, show the symptoms of reduction or loss (hypomotility) or abnormal increase (hypermotility) of peristalsis of the esophagus. It is important to understand the anatomy and physiology of the esophagus for the appropriate radiological method and diagnosis. Furthermore, the symptom of the patient and the manometry finding must be closely referred for the radiological diagnosis. The lower esophageal sphincter can be normally functioning and open completely as the food moves lower. Sperandio M et al. argues that the name diffuse esophageal spasm must be changed to distal esophageal spasm (DES) as most of the spasm occurs in the distal esophagus, composed of the smooth muscle. According to Ott et al., usefulness of barium method for diagnosing the esophageal motility disorder is Achalasia 95%, DES 71% and NEMD 46%, with the overall sensitivity of 56%. However, excluding the nutcracker esophagus or nonspecific disorder which cannot be diagnosed with the radiological methods, the sensitivity increases to 89%. Using videofluoroscopy and 5 time swallows, the average sensitivity was over 90%. In conclusion, the barium method is a simple primary testing method for esophageal motility test. Using not only the image but also the videofluoroscopy with good knowledge of the anatomy and physiology, it is believed that the method will yield the accurate diagnosis.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2009

Kaolinite was synthesized from amorphous $SiO_2$ and $Al(OH)_3{\cdot}xH_{2}O$ as starting materials by hydrothermal reaction conducted at $250^{\circ}C$ and $30\;kg/cm^2$. The acidity of the solution was adjusted at pH 2. The synthesized kaolinite was characterized by XRD, IR, NMR, FE-SEM, TEM and EDS to clarify the formational process according to the reaction time from 2 to 36 hours. X-ray diffraction patterns showed after 2 h of reaction time, the starting material amorphous $Al(OH)_3{\cdot}xH_{2}O$ transformed to boehmite (AlOOH) and after the reaction time 5 h, the peaks of boehmite were observed to be absent thereby indicating the crystal structure is partially destructed. Kaolinite formation was identified in the product obtained after 10 h of reaction and the peak intensity of kaolinite increased further with reaction time. The results of TGA and DTA revealed that the principal feature of kaolinite trace are well resolved. TGA results showed 13 wt% amount of weight loss and DTA analysis showed that exothermic peak of boehmite observed at $258^{\circ}C$ was decreased gradually and after 10 h of reaction time, it was disappeared. After 5 h of the reaction time, the exothermicpeak of transformation to spinel phase was observed and the peak intensiy increased with reaction time. The results of FT-IR suggested a highly ordered kaolinite was obtained after 36 hours of reaction. It was identified by the characteristic hydroxide group bands positioned at 3,696, 3670, 3653 and $3620\;cm^{-1}$. The development of the hydroxyl stretching between 3696 and $3620\;cm^{-1}$, depends on the degree of order and crystalline perfection. TEM results showed that after 15 h reaction time, curved platy kaolinite was observed as growing of (001) plane and after 36 h, the morphology of synthetic kaolinite exhibited platy crystal with partial polygonal outlines.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.399-410
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• 1985

Bentonites from the Janggi Group of the Lower Miocene age from the Geumgwangdong area, Korea, have been studied for mineralogical and genetic characterization. The Janggi Group is subdivided, in ascending order, into the Janggi Conglomerate, the Nuldaeri Tuff, the Geumgwangdong Shale, the Lower Coal-bearing Formation, the Basaltic Tuff, and the Upper Coalbearing Formation. Bentonites occur as thin or thick beds in all sedimentary units of the Janggi Group, except for the Janggi Conglomerate. Significant bentonite deposits are found in the Nuldaeri Tuff, the Lower Coal-bearing Formation and the Basaltic Tuff. Bentonites consist mainly of smectite (mainly montmorillonite), with minor quartz, cristobalite, opal-CT and feldspar. Occasionally, kaolinite, clinoptilolite or gypsum is associated with bentonites. Bentonites were studied by the methods of petrographic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis (DT A and TG), infrared absorption spectroscopic analysis, SEM, intercalation reaction, and chemical analysis. Smectites commonly occur as irregular boxwork-like masses with characteristic curled thin edges, but occasionally as smoothly curved to nearly flat thin flakes. Most of smectites have layer charge of 0.25-0.42, indicating typical montmorillonite. Crystal-chemical relations suggest that Fe is the dominant substituent for Al in the octahedral layer and there are generally no significant substituents for Si in the tetrahedral layer. Ca is the dominant interlayer cation in montmorillonite. Therefore, montmorillonite from the study area is dioctahedral Ca-montmorillonite. Occurrence and fabrics of bentonites suggest that smectites as well as cristobalite, opal-CT and zeolites have been formed diagenetically from tuffaceous materials. The precursor of smectites is trachytic or basaltic tuff. Smectites derived from the former contain relatively more $Al_2O$ a and less $Fe_2O_3$ than those from the latter.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.336-344
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate changes in the physicochemical, antioxidant, and sensory properties of burdock during 9 repeated rounds of steaming ($90^{\circ}C$, 3 h) and drying ($60^{\circ}C$, 20 h) procedures. The moisture content decreased from 81.95% to 7.64% as the process was repeated. Fresh burdock showed the highest total sugar content, with 518.35 mg/g of soluble sugar, 86% being inulin. The reducing sugar content was the greatest (377.00 mg/g) in burdock that had been processed 3 times. The brown color continuously intensified, reaching its peak at 7 rounds of processing, and then weakened. Crude saponin content was the highest (6.17%) after the 5th processing. Polyphenol content and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) were the highest at the 3rd and 5th procedures, respectively. Repeated processing weakened the grass and root odors and the bitter, astringent, and metallic tastes, whereas it strengthened the sweet and savory odors, caramel flavor, and richness.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2017

Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba, is a traditional medicinal herb that shows various pharmacological activities such as antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antimelanogenesis, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiallergic, and immunomodulatory activities. However, the mechanisms of their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by ethanol extracts of Mori Folium (EEMF) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with EEMF suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in the lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining. EEMF significantly reduced the accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which is associated with a significant inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$). In addition, EEMF potentially downregulated the expression of adipocyte-specific genes, including adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and leptin. Furthermore, EEMF treatment effectively increased the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC); however, treatment with a potent inhibitor of AMPK, compound C, significantly restored the EEMF-induced inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and adipocyte-specific genes. These results together indicate that EEMF has preeminent effects on the inhibition of adipogenesis through the AMPK signaling pathway, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds in Mori Folium.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2003

Background : Goblet cell hyperplasia is a critical pathological feature in hypersecretory diseases of the airways. A bacterial infection of the lung is also known to induce inflammatory responses, which can lead to the overproduction of mucus. Recently, mucin synthesis in the airways has been reported to be regulated by neutrophilic inflammation-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activation. In addition, it was reported that migration of the activated neutrophils is dependent on the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9. In this study, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion by EGFR cascade, resulting from the MMPs-dependent neutrophilic inflammation were investigated in the rat airways. Methods : Pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in vivo. Various concentrations of LPS were instilled into the trachea in $300{\mu}{\ell}$ PBS (LPS group). Sterile PBS ($300{\mu}{\ell}$) was instilled into the trachea of the control animals (control group). The airways were examined on different days after instilling LPS. For an examination of the relationship between the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and MMPs, the animals were pretreated 3 days prior to the LPS instillation and daily thereafter with the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI; 20 mg/Kg/day of CMT-3; Collagenex Pharmaceuticals, USA). The neutrophilic infiltration was quantified as a number in five high power fields (HPF). The alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff (AB/PAS) stain were performed for the mucus glycoconjugates and the immunohistochemical stains were performed for MUC5AC, EGFR and MMP-9. Their expressions were quantified by an image analysis program and were expressed by the percentage of the total bronchial epithelial area. Results : The instillation of LPS induced AB/PAS and MUC5AC staining in the airway epithelium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Treatment with the MMPI prevented the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia significantly. The instillation of LPS into the trachea induced also EGFR expression in the airway epithelium. The control airway epithelium contained few leukocytes, but the intratracheal instillation of LPS resulted in a neutrophilic recruitment. A pretreatment with MMPI prevented neutrophilic recruitment, EGFR expression, and goblet cell hyperplasia in the LPS-instilled airway epithelium. Conclusion : Matrix metalloproteinase is involved in LPS-induced mucus hypersecretion, resulting from a neutrophilic inflammation and EGFR cascade. These results suggest a potential therapeutic role of MMPI in the treatment of mucus hypersecretion that were associated with a bacterial infection of the airways.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.61-75
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• 2002

Recombinant human $interleukin-1{\beta}$ $(rhIL-1{\beta})$ regulates several activities of the osteoblast cells derived from mouse calvarial bone explants in vitro. $rhIL-1{\beta}$ stimulated cellular proliferation and the synthesis of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ and plasminogen activator activity in the cultured cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, the induction of osteocalcin synthesis and alkaine phosphatase activity in response to vitamine D, two characteristics of the osteoblast phenotype, were antagonized by $rhIL-1{\beta}$ over a similar dose range. This study supports the role of $IL-1{\beta}$ in the pathological modulation of bone cell metabolism, with regard to implication in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis by $IL-1{\beta}$. When the mouse calvarial bone cells were used, the bone resorption induced by $IL-1{\beta}$ was strongly inhibited by calcitonin treatment, indicating osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. On the other hand, the medicinal extracts of Taeyoungjon-Jahage (T.Y.J-J.H.G extracts) was tested for whether they could inhibit $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ $PGE_2$ production. Cell viability was not significantly affected by treatment with the indicated concentration of the extracts. The T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts were shown to have the inhibitory effects against the synthesis of $PGE_2$. We also examined the effect of the pretreatment with a various concentrations of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts then treated the $PGE_2-induction$ agents. Pretreatment of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts for 1 h, which by itself had little effect on cell survival, did not enhance the synthesis of $PGE_2$. Furthermore, the T.Y.J-J.H.G. extracts were shown to have the protective effects against plasminogen dependent fibrinolysis induced by the bone resorption agents of $IL-1{\beta}$. Pretreatment of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts for 1 h did not enhance the plasminogen dependent fibrinolysis. Finally, calcitonin showed the inhibitory activity the $IL-1{\beta}-stimulated$ bone resorption in the mouse calvarial bone cells having both of the osteoblast and osteoclast cells. Seemingly, pretreatment of the T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts for 1 h reduced the bone resorption. These results clearly indicated that calcitonin and T.Y.J.-J.H.G. extracts play key roles in inhibition of the osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.746-752
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• 2007

Purpose : Total hydroperoxide (TH), free radical-mediated oxidation product can be used as a measure of free radical injury. The aim of the present study was to see if preterm newborns are at increased risk for oxidative stress compared with term newborns, and to determine whether oxidative stress during postnatal first 1 week is associated with clinical outcomes in preterm infants. Methods : Serum TH levels of preterm infants (n=39) were compared with those of term infants (n=24) on the postnatal day 1. Among the preterm infants, serum TH levels of uncomplicated group (n=23) were also compared with those of complicated group (n=16) who developed oxygen radical related diseases on the postnatal day 1 and 7. Retrospective analysis was performed to find out risk factors for oxygen radical injuries based on birth history, laboratory data, neuroimaging findings and clinical progress in two preterm groups. Results : Serum TH levels on postnatal day 1 were higher in the preterm infant group than the term infant group. Serum TH levels on postnatal day 1 in the complicated preterm infant group were significantly higher compared with uncomplicated group, but there was no significant difference in serum TH levels on postnatal day 7. Also, there was no significant difference in serum TH levels between uncomplicated preterm infants and term infants. Serum TH level on postnatal day 1 was independently associated with higher morbidity after adjusting for gestational age, Apgar score (5 min), arterial blood gas analysis. Conclusion : Complicated preterm newborns are at increased risk for oxidative stress compared with uncomplicated newborns and term newborns. Oxidative injury during the prenatal or postnatal day 1 is associated with adverse outcomes in preterm infants. Elevated TH levels on postnatal day 1 may have a value to predict clinical outcomes in preterm infants.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.28
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• pp.209-233
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• 2012

The animation cluster in Korea has begun as a part of the local cultural cluster in the late 1990s with components of companies, local governments, educational institutions, and human resources, which were necessary to run the cluster. And, the animation cluster was initiated for the purpose of encouraging regional economies, but the basic unit was the local on a small scale. Because of this inherent weakness in the local cluster, it was needed to add some additional strategies that could expand the local animation industry into the formal leading industry. That is why the development policy was set up, and the local promotion agency based on this policy was established. It has been several years to manage the local promotion agency, and it is reported that there have been some visible effects. But, it is found out that analyzing the outcome of small unit cluster on the basis of existing criteria on a large scale is not reliable, which means it is not possible to evaluate the outcome of local cluster in a material way. Some examples of problems are as follows. First, the local cluster was made not autonomously but deliberately. Second, the animation cluster of each province has the same market as its target. Therefore, this research - on the basis of the diamond model - focuses on analyzing the existence and role of local promotion agencies rather than evaluating the outcome itself. Through the cases of two provincial cities, Chuncheon and Bucheon, this research examines if it is possible to evaluate the outcome of local clusters managed by promotion agencies.